When you earn an advanced education degree, you expect it to lead pretty much in one direction: toward a school. Where you sit in that school might depend on the type of degree you choose. Some people become teachers. Others become principles or other types of administrators.
You don’t think of education degrees as having other applications. Can they?
So many of the skills that make a person a good teacher also make them a strong business leader. In this article, we take a look at how advanced education degrees can open unexpected career doors.
What Kind of Graduate School Opportunities Are Available for Teachers?
That depends in part on what they want to do with their degree. Teachers can always continue their education with a master’s degree that expands on their existing expertise. A math teacher might get a master’s degree in math education. An English teacher might get a master’s degree in English education. You see where we are going with this.
There are also opportunities to pivot in a slightly different direction. This could mean changing lanes to a minor extent. For example, someone whose undergraduate degree qualified them to teach 1st-8th grade might use graduate school to pivot into teaching high school. A high school teacher could do the same if they wanted to teach lower grades.
This type of maneuvering will depend slightly on state requirements. Some states are very stringent in their rules for what a teacher must do to transition into another age group. Some may make it relatively straightforward, requiring only an equivalency test. Here are some advanced education degrees that expand career options:
· Master’s in Educational Leadership/Administration – This degree prepares teachers to move into administrative roles like principal, curriculum director, or district supervisor. The coursework typically covers organizational management, educational policy, and instructional leadership, giving teachers the skills needed to guide entire schools or departments rather than individual classrooms.
· Master’s in Educational Technology – This degree focuses on integrating modern technology into educational settings and could lead to roles as an educational technology specialist or instructional designer. Teachers with this degree often become valuable assets in developing online learning programs or training other educators in using new educational tools and platforms.
· Master’s in School Counseling – This master’s degree allows teachers to transition into providing direct emotional and academic support to students as school counselors. The program combines psychology, counseling techniques, and educational theory, preparing educators to help students with both personal challenges and academic planning while still remaining in the school environment they know well.
Perhaps more interestingly, graduate school can allow teachers to transition into entirely new positions.
Leadership Positions
An advanced degree in education demonstrates valuable leadership skills that translate well to many business environments. School leaders must manage complex budgets, supervise large teams, and navigate challenging interpersonal dynamics.
They regularly handle crisis management and strategic planning while working with diverse stakeholders including staff, families, and community partners. The skills required to effectively run a school system mirror those needed in corporate settings – particularly when it comes to professional development and organizational change.
Education leaders excel at breaking down complex concepts and communicating them clearly, which is essential for training and development roles. They also bring strong project management abilities, having overseen curriculum implementations and school-wide initiatives.
Their experience with data-driven decision-making through student assessment and program evaluation shows analytical capabilities.
Perhaps most importantly, education leaders understand how to motivate teams and foster collaborative environments that drive results. Companies increasingly recognize that the ability to develop talent and build a strong organizational culture is crucial for business success.
Why Businesses Value Candidates with Graduate Degrees
Just having a graduate degree shows that you are a bright, hard worker. Students must balance complex workloads while often maintaining jobs and personal commitments.
This level of discipline demonstrates valuable traits like persistence and intellectual curiosity that businesses seek. Graduate coursework develops advanced research and analytical abilities that transfer across industries. Students learn to synthesize information, think critically, and solve complex problems systematically.
The rigorous writing and presentation requirements in most graduate programs also hone crucial communication skills. Employers know that graduate degree holders have proven they can tackle challenging projects independently and see them through to completion.
The relative rarity of advanced degrees makes candidates stand out in competitive job markets. Many companies use education level as an initial screening tool, viewing graduate degrees as a mark of exceptional capability.
This credential can open doors even when the specific field of study isn’t directly related to the role. Organizations recognize that anyone who successfully completes graduate studies likely possesses the work ethic and intellectual capacity to excel in demanding business environments.
Teachers with graduate degrees in education demonstrate transferable skills that every business is looking for.
Advanced Education Degrees As A Way Into Big Business?
With all of this said, if business is your ultimate ambition, study it. A degree in education certainly can open unexpected doors but if you already know what direction you are headed, focus more specifically on that.
Anytime you are going to invest $60-100K into something, you want it to be as versatile as possible, right?
Education degrees certainly apply best to education careers. The other options we have described in this article are possibilities. If you already have an advanced degree in education, they are great options to explore. Also, if you are considering a career in education, but want to have options should you choose to pivot later, this might also be heartening information.
That said, when choosing an advanced degree it helps to align your study as specially as you can with your ultimate goal. What do you most want to do? Find a degree that will help you live that life.
